Tear gas at Paris protest against ‘police brutality’ after alleged baton rape

French police fired tear gas in clashes with hooded demonstrators in Paris on Sunday as thousands marched against “police brutality” after the alleged rape of a black youth with a police baton.

The February attack on the 22-year-old man, identified only as Theo, cast a spotlight on rough policing methods in France and triggered riots in the gritty suburbs surrounding Paris. Theo sustained severe anal and rectal injuries, as well as wounds to his head and face, during a stop-and-search operation in the Seine-Saint-Denis region northeast of Paris.

He said one of the police officers assaulted him with a baton, which has led to rape charges against him. Four officers have been suspended pending an investigation.

Police said around 7,000 to 7,500 people joined the march to Place de la Republique in central Paris, where demonstrators chanted “no justice, no peace” and “emergency, emergency, police are killing with impunity”.

Officers in riot gear used tear gas against some of the masked protesters who hurled back the canisters.

Two police officers were lightly injured in the clashes and taken to hospital, authorities said, while 11 people were arrested.